A participant generates an AI digital image. [Photo/WeChat account: icaves]

The Dunhuang Culture Week: When Macao Meets Dunhuang thematic exchange event concluded on Feb 22 at the Dom Pedro V Theatre in Macao, offering a cross-cultural dialogue amid the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year.

Organized by the Dunhuang Academy, the six-day event, which began on Feb 17, was structured around four sections: art exhibition, in-depth experience, creative interaction, and knowledge sharing. It aimed to bring the rich heritage of Dunhuang culture closer to the public through diverse formats.

Key activities included Encountering Dunhuang, in which visitors used VR headsets to engage in an immersive exploration of Cave 285.

A stamp experience allowed participants to print designs featuring elements like flying apsaras and the three-rabbit motif.

A Tang Dynasty-style costume experience showcased the aesthetics of the ancient Silk Road, while another activity utilized AIGC technology to generate personalized digital avatars with a Dunhuang theme.

A tourist from Shanghai said that the VR experience of the Mogao Grottoes felt more real than the actual thing. She and her family actively engaged with the interactive exhibits, finding the event a meaningful way to promote and share Dunhuang culture.